Sumptuous costumes, gorgeous sets and joyful melodies that take you all the way to French Morocco, Opera Australia premieres Two Weddings, One Bride – an exciting new work by Robert Andrew Greene at the Sydney Opera House from 29 April 2017.
Loosely based on a story by Charles Lecocq, Greene’s creation is guaranteed to deliver plenty of laughs and beautiful music with some of the world’s most-loved tunes and favourite operetta waltzes, polkas and songs by Strauss, Offenbach, Lehár and Kálmán.
Set in the exotic surrounds of Morocco, Greene has drawn on the winning formula of combining musical greatest hits with a quirky and entertaining story, in a similar vein to Mamma Mia The Musical. With a plot that twists and turns, a fiscally challenged Governor finds himself in a little too deep and the creditors are nipping at his well-shod heels. But marrying off his twin daughters to just the right suitors could save his bacon.
Two Weddings One Bride features a fantastic cast including Opera Australia principal artist, soprano Julie Lea Goodwin who boasts a background in musical theatre and classical crossover, tenors Nicholas Jones and David Lewis, celebrated baritones Andrew Jones and John Bolton Wood and theatre royalty, Geraldine Turner.
Created by highly respected conductor and musical director Robert Andrew Greene, directed by Dean Bryant whose credits include Anything Goes and The Rocky Horror Show, and with costumes by Priscilla Queen of the Desert’s, Oscar Award-winning designer Tim Chappel, this production will be unlike anything Opera Australia has ever staged before.
Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini has welcomed the opportunity to present a lighthearted production with some of the best music in the operetta repertoire. “Two Weddings, One Bride is a very humorous piece, it’s like a French farce all set to fabulous music that people will know straight away,” says Terracini.
“This production is really out there, it’s for people who want to have a fun time, have a laugh, hear some music they know and love and see some terrific performances from some of Australia’s finest singers.”
Director: Dean Bryant Featuring: Julie Lea Goodwin, David Lewis, Marasquin Nicholas Jones, Andrew Jones, John Bolton Wood, Geraldine Turner Music Director and Pianist: Robert Andrew Greene Set Designer: Owen Phillips Costume Designer: Tim Chappel Lighting Designer: John Rayment Choreographer: Andrew Hallsworth Assistant Director: Sally Hare
Two Weddings, One Bride
The Playhouse – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Season: 29 April – 22 October 2017
Information and Bookings: www.opera.org.au
Image: John Bolton Wood, Julie Lea Goodwin and Geraldine Turner in Opera Australia’s 2017 production of Two Weddings, One Bride – photo by Prudence Upton